Full Time: Liverpool 3-1 Brentford
In what was a slow lethargic start to the game The Reds went in at half time level and turned things up a notch in the second half to run out easy winners. Goals from Jota, Diaz & Nunez saw us restored at the top of the table after City won earlier in the day.
First Half
With injuries and illness sweeping through the team it could be the reason for the slow start. Not that we were stretched at any point but you felt we weren't quite at the races. Trent in particular seemed a yard of everything and could be why he was subbed at half time.
The thing is with this Liverpool side even a half fit Trent was enough to break the deadlock.. Moments before the first goal he blazed a shot just over the bar. Diaz had a few half chances and Burnley were looking a little threatening in attack..
Then the corner came. Trent put the ball down. Whipped in one of his dangerous deliveries straight on to the head of Jota who headed home with ease. Other than a few long range efforts there wasn't much to report from The Reds.
Burnley pulled one back just before the break with a goal from a corner themselves so 1-1 at the break was a fair scoreline..
Second Half
Trent never came out in the second half and was replaced by young Harvey Elliott who turned the game on its head.. Curtis lined up at right back in place of TAA and we looked solid and had a bit of energy down that right hand side again..
The returning Robbo was just as efficient down the left making those darting runs down the wing. He was unlucky not to depart with an assist or two.. The other returning player was Endo who was snapping in to everything in midfield and spraying the ball over the pitch..
Harvey though was involved in everything and when he broke free down the right hand side he clipped a nice little pass for Diaz to fly in and plant a header into the bottom right hand corner. The usual VAR multi checks followed before we could celebrate taking the lead..
We had to ride our luck a little as Burnley broke through twice in a matter of minutes. Kelleher who was standing in for the flu ridden Ali was quick of his line to pull of a great stop. While the other chance was curled just wide..
So the third was needed to put the game to bed. Harvey once again found himself in a similar position on that right hand side of the box and he curled in an inch perfect cross for Nunez to head home. Its a goal he has really deserved after some full throttle performances..
Summary
It shows how hard it is for new teams to the league. Liverpool never got out of first gear all afternoon. Maybe a gear and a half possibly. Yet we ran out easy winners.. Burnley to their credit came and played their game which is commendable. Yet its a tough task to beat a Liverpool side injury hit or not..
Liverpool are back top of the tree and have a good week to try and get some players back in time for a tricky match at Brentford before Luton come to Anfield the following Wednesday. Then we have the League Cup final.. So a fuller squad would be a nice little luxury.
In terms of performance it's hard to judge when we are down to the bones. We looked so good against Chelsea like we'd found a rhythm before the build up to Arsenal where a few players were forced out hours before the match. Likewise in this one. You can't cater for these things.
So it just shows good our squad is in terms of personnel and mentality. Its a shame we fell a bit short at The Emirates but that City game at home is shaping up to be a big one..
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